Join Coastal Zone 2011 hosts and noted Clinton White House Chief of Staff, Mr. John Podesta, for a candid roundtable discussion where senior representatives of DOI, USACE, EPA, The Nature Conservancy, and NOAA will focus on key challenges and new approaches in coastal, ocean and Great Lakes management.

In this session you will hear from the leaders of some of the organizations that are working towards implementing the National Policy for the stewardship of our ocean, coasts and Great Lakes, continuing our nation’s tradition of championing healthy, vibrant and sustainable marine and coastal ecosystems and communities. This discussion will focus not only on the perspectives of individual agencies and organizations, but continue to explore how we can leverage the strengths of our efforts as a whole to address the many issues that are influencing change in our coastal, marine, estuarine, and Great Lakes communities. Problems such as the impacts of increasing coastal development and urbanization, conflicting uses of ocean, coastal and Great Lakes resources, altered watersheds and habitat loss, declining biodiversity, and new threats such as those related to global climate change are some of the central challenges that face our Nation, and the world.

As we look towards a bright and sustainable future, Winds of Change: Charting the Future of Our Oceans and Great Lakes will provide new insights to our audience, a broad range of coastal professionals, scientists, managers, policy makers, students, and tribal representatives who are such a vital part of this collective effort.

Conference attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions if time allows.

Moderator:
Mr. John Podesta, President and CEO, Center for American Progress

PANELISTS:
Cameron Davis - Senior Advisor to the Administrator for the Great Lakes, Environmental Protection Agency
Eileen Sobeck, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, US Department of the Interior
Dr. Lynne Hale, Director of Global Marine Programs, The Nature Conservancy
Dr. Jane Lubchenco, Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere of the Department of Commerce and NOAA Administrator
Mr. Terrence “Rock” Salt, Principal Deputy Assistant for the Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works Directorate